#mandus

There are patches of mud now, where the snow has melted. It paints the bottoms of his shoes brown. He will have to clean them before he enters the next tavern; no need to give the poor barkeep more work. No doubt they already mop up the mess all other patrons have made. He knows they do. He has spent many a night listening to their laments, after all.

He brushes his hand against the bark of a birch tree. He can feel life returning to it as the forest wakes; a squirrel stirs from its nest, not yet awake but near to it. A seed splits beneath his feet, releasing a brand new seedling into the dirt. Cold water drips down from the tree’s branches, spattering against his hand. The water warms against his skin.

“Aiden?” A voice calls to him, quiet in the morning calm.

He turns to his companion, a smile in his eyes. He pulls his hand from the tree, instead brushing his fingers over fluffy hair. His fingers run through the strands up to a horn, the smooth surface broken only by a jagged break; a battle long past flashes in his mind’s eyes, quickly driven away when a hand not his own cups his stubbled cheek.

“Aiden, you are staring again.” Mandus is so gentle with him, their thumb rubbing small circles into his skin.

“I cannot help it. You are beautiful.” Mandus’s cheeks pinken.

Unable to form the words to reciprocate, Mandus leans down to press his forehead against Aiden’s. Their natural warmth creates a cocoon around the two of them, safe from the still-cool breeze gliding through the trees. Barren branches clack above them, a faraway birdsong echoing to their ears.

Mandus pulls away first, bringing his free hand down to cup the stub of Aiden’s left arm. In an act that is becoming increasingly familiar, he bows low to press his lips to the sensitive scarred skin. Aiden’s eyes are wet when he glances up at him through his lashes. The human pulls his tiefling up just enough to brush their lips together.

“F dajy haf.” The words are warm in Aiden’s mouth, barely louder than a breath and yet he knows his life partner heard him.

They stand there, holding onto one another, simply breathing and being. The sun has fully crested the horizon by the time they separate. Their hands find each other as they turn to continue along their path. They will take more moments like this as they journey. They always do. But for now, they have somewhere to be.